trial dates?

[teakae]

We got a copy from our lawyer saying that we have a trial date "with in the two weeks starting Nov 8th" The document also had bunch of stuff about deadlines leading towards this date. For example "witness list" has to be submitted, mediation to be completed, etc.

Now the question, here we are at Oct 1st, our mediation is not yet set up between the lawyers. Our lawyer thinks it will be scheduled in the next two weeks. That already violates what the first document said to complete mediation 30 days before "trial date".

So what does this "trial date" mean? Is it some arbiturary date so that things can seem to get going?
And how many times do we have to go to mediation before it is decided we need to go to court? Personally I wouldn't want to waste time mediating because we know we won't be able to agree to anything that way. We really want to go to trial as quickly as possible because what the judge decides can't be worse than what is already happening.

Any experiences with setting trial dates will be appreciated.

[Lawmoe]

You received what is known as a scheduling order, setting timelines for the case.  It shoud be followed. However, when things lag, it is not uncommon for continuances to be granted.